Plane (tool)

“ The wings of a flying machine, it has been said, are called planes, but they are not true planes. Like the wings of a bird, they are 'cambered', that is to say, they curve upward from the leading edge and downward again to the trailing edge. Some of the most valuable work contributed by the laboratory to the science of flight has had for its object the determination of the best form of camber, or curve of the plane. ”

“ ON THE INCLINED PLANE, WEDGE, AND SCREW. (286.) The inclined plane is the most simple of all machines. It is a hard plane surface forming some angle with a horizontal plane, that angle not being a right angle. When a weight is placed on such a plane, a two-fold effect is produced. A part of the effect of the weight is resisted by the plane, and produces a pressure upon it; and the remainder urges the weight down the plane, and would produce a pressure against any surface resisting its motion placed in a direction perpendicular to the plane (131.) ”

“ When the under surface of the plane is worn out of true, let the iron be wedged in the plane mouth, but let the cutting edge of the iron be well below the surface of the plane stock. Then, with another fore plane, freshly sharpened and set very fine, true up the surface, and be sure the surface does not wind, which may be ascertained by the application of a pair of winding strips, the manner of applying which will be explained hereafter. ”

“ In a flying machine, an aeroplane having substantially the form of a normally flat rectangle elongated transversely to the line of flight, in combination which means for imparting to the lateral margins of said aeroplane a movement about an axis lying in the body of the aeroplane perpendicular to said lateral margins, and thereby moving said lateral margins into different angular relations to the normal plane of the body of the aeroplane, substantially as described. ”

“ Here is a short plane, only eight and a half inches long. What do you call it?”
“A smoothing-plane. It is used to polish off the board after you have taken off the rough,” replied Corny Minkfield.
“Hardly to polish it, though I understand what you mean. We don’t polish wood with a plane: we simply smooth it.” ”

“ In the case of the thin board the plane will move laterally, unless the utmost care is exercised; in the truing up the thick plank the constant tendency is to move the plane along the surface at a slight diagonal, and this is sure to cause trouble. ”

“ As the front edge of a plane is raised, the center of pressure travels backward. By the time the plane has reached an angle of about fifteen degrees, its lifting power has diminished about one-half. A very narrow plane, or one with a high aspect ratio, should, therefore, be set near the horizontal. ”

“ NARROW PLATES MOST EFFECTIVE.—It was learned, in the early stages of the development by practical experiments, that a narrow plane, fore and aft, produces a greater lift than a wide one, so that, assuming the plane has 100 square feet of sustaining surface, it is far better to make the shape five feet by twenty than ten by ten. ”

“ It is necessary to make three planes in order to obtain a perfect one, and cast iron is the best material generally to use. Whatever the size of the plane required, the tripod form is absolutely essential for its support; and the strengthening ribs must be placed with reference to the supports. I cannot impress too strongly on the members of the Institution, and upon all in any way connected with mechanism, the vast importance of possessing a true plane, as a standard for reference. All excellence in workmanship depends upon it. ”

“ Theoretically the top plane should be staggered forward for a distance equal to about 30 per cent. of the chord, the exact distance depending upon the velocity and angle of incidence; but this is not always possible to arrange in designing an aeroplane, owing to difficulties of balance, desired position, and view of pilot, observer, etc.
6. Horizontal Equivalent.—The vertical component of the reaction, i.e., lift, varies as the horizontal equivalent (H.E.) of the surface, but the drift remains the same. Then it follows that if H.E. grows less, the ratio of lift to drift must do the same. ”

“ As the square surface moves along, the air is momentarily compressed under the front edge, but instantly slips off at the back and sides. As the broad surface of the rectangular plane cuts the air, however, few of the air currents can escape at the sides while the most of them are crowded together and held in place until they slip off at the back. ”

“ Fig. 152. this is essential on account of the fact that the angle between the supporting plane and the tail plane is assumed to be the angle made by the former by the line of flight. The computation of is made from gliding data, the whole surface being assumed as subject to skin-friction, or an allowance may be made in respect of the supporting plane on the lines laid down in §§ 182, 183 and 184. ”

“ In using a jack plane we commence each stroke by exerting a pressure mostly on the fore part of the plane, commencing at the end and towards the edge of the board, and taking off a shaving as long as the arms can conveniently reach. If the board is longer than can be reached without moving, we pass across the board, planing it all across at one standing ”

“ Not less important in engineering than the truly curved surface is the true plane, in which, as Euclid would say, any two points being taken, the straight line between them lies wholly in that superficies. The lathe depends for its efficiency on the perfect flatness of all areas which should be flat—the guides, the surface plates, the bottom and sides of the headstock, and, above all, of the slide rest. For making plane metal superficies, a machine must first be constructed which itself is above suspicion ”

“ This has caused the curving of the planes (from front to rear) of the flying machine, in contrast with the flat plane of the 50 kite. The reasoning is along this line: Suppose the main plane of an aeroplane six feet in depth (from front to rear) to be passing rapidly through the air, inclined upward at a slight angle. By the time two feet of this depth has passed a certain point, the air at that point will have received a downward impulse or compression which will tend to make it flow in the direction of the angle of the plane. ”

“ Also, planes are driven through the air at an angle—that is, with the entering edge higher than the rear edge—because the upward tilt gives the air current a chance to get under the plane and support it. ”

“ Wooden planes are still the favourite tools of some woodworkers, but iron planes have largely superseded them. A 15-inch iron jack plane, a 9-inch smoothing plane, and a block plane make a very good combination for a beginning. ”

“ This curve is technically known as the CAMBER, and upon the camber depend the strength and speed of the machine.
If you turn back to Chapter XVII you will see that the plane is modelled after the wing of a bird. It has been found that the lifting power of a plane gradually dwindles from the front edge—or ENTERING EDGE, as it is called—backwards. For this reason it is necessary to equip a machine with a very long, narrow plane, rather than with a comparatively broad but short plane. ”

“ Nowhere can good, common sense be used to better advantage than in learning to plane.
When planes are not in use they should be laid on their sides, or otherwise placed so that the cutting edge shall not touch anything.
For roughing off and straightening broad surfaces, the jack-plane should be used, and this followed by the smooth-plane.
When using the plane, stand with the right side to the bench; avoid a stooping position. Fig. 61. The plane should rest flat upon the wood from start to finish. Press heavily upon the knob in starting and upon the handle in finishing the stroke. ”

“ The length of your motor base beyond the front plane should be carefully calculated. It is very easy, of course, to run your shaft too far forward. The center of gravity is easily shifted in this way, and your model soon becomes unmanageable. ”

“ With a machine as large as this one, quite a field will be necessary to give it a good flight. Test the plane by gliding it, that is, holding it up by the propellers and bearing blocks on a level with your head and throwing it forward on an even keel. Shift the planes forward or back until it balances and comes to the ground lightly. ”

“ Built-up Planes, that is, planes having a double curve approaching true stream line form, come nearer being the ideal plane than any other from some standpoints, but do not possess any advantages when used on models of less than four feet spread. ”

“ I have further shown by independent investigations that while the shape of the plane is of secondary importance if its movement be normal, the shape and “aspect” greatly affect the resultant pressure when the plane is inclined at a small angle, and propelled by such a force that its flight is horizontal, that is, under the actual conditions of soaring flight. ”

“ The power of an inclined plane, considered as a machine, is therefore estimated by the proportion which its length bears to its height. This power is always increased by diminishing the elevation of the plane. ”

“ But any plane α cuts each of the planes π1, π2 in a line. These are called the traces of the plane. They cut each other in the axis at the point where the latter cuts the plane α.
A plane is determined by its two traces, which are two lines that meet on the axis, and, conversely, any two lines which meet on the axis determine a plane.
If the plane is parallel to the axis its traces are parallel to the axis. Of these one may be at infinity; then the plane will cut one of the planes of projection at infinity and will be parallel to it. ”

“ If you imagine for a moment a plane or flat surface of which the earth's axis forms a part you will see that wherever that plane cuts the surface of the earth will be a line in a north and south direction. Consequently, if any horizontal object has its axis in that same plane it, too, will always point north and south. A wheel, small but heavy, is therefore mounted with its axis supported horizontally upon a little metal raft floating in a trough of mercury and driven round at a very fast speed by a small electric motor fixed in it. ”

“ Of such apparatus, two of the simplest are the plane table and the camera. Since one must know the principles of plane-table surveying before he can do camera surveying, this paper will describe the plane table alone, leaving the camera for another chapter.
A plane table is simply a drawing board mounted on a tripod so that it can be set up and worked upon in the field. One kind of plane table, which is used in the army for reconnaissance, does not even have a tripod; it is simply strapped to the arm of the man who is using it. ”

“ If a straight line be at right angles to a plane, every plane which passes through it shall be at right angles to that plane.
Prop. 19. If two planes which cut one another be each of them perpendicular to a third plane, their common section shall be perpendicular to the same plane. ”

“ The try-square or any straight edge may be used for the same purpose, Fig. 105. If there be any wind in the board, this should at once be taken out of one face by planing down the high corners.
In starting to plane, the worker should bear down on the knob at the front end of the plane. When the plane is well on the board, he should bear down equally on both [page 75] knob and handle, and as the plane begins to pass off the board he should put all the pressure on the handle end, Fig. ”

“ PLANE CONSTRUCTION. Of the various components which comprise the complete machine, the wings, aerofoils, or planes, as these items are variously designated, may be said to contribute the greater part of the ultimate success of the complete machine. The aerodynamical properties of a wing are now fairly well determined, and have been the subject of a great number of experiments, resulting in the clearing away of many hazy ideas and notions, so that the actual design of the wing section for machines of given purpose is almost standardized. ”

“ Since a smooth plane has no handle lay your right hand over the tail of it and rest your left hand on the nose of it. Make short, quick strokes, pressing down on the plane as it goes forward and letting up on it a little as you draw it back.
A jack-plane has a handle on it something like a saw-handle and it is held like a saw with your right hand. If there is no knob on the nose of it hold it by laying your left hand across it. When using a jack plane give it a long stroke with even pressure and you will take off the same thickness of shaving all the way along.
How to Use Chisels and Gouges. ”

“ The bench planes [instructed Nicholson] are, the jack plane, the fore plane, the trying plane, the long plane, the jointer, and the smoothing plane; the cylindric plane, the compass and forkstaff planes; the straight block, for straightening short edges. Rebating planes are the moving fillister, the sash fillister, the common rebating plane, the side rebating plane. Grooving planes are the plough and dado grooving planes. Moulding planes are sinking snipebills, side snipebills, beads, hollows and rounds, ovolos and ogees. Boring tools are: gimlets, bradawls, stock, and bits. ”

“ A little more instruction from him put me on the right track, and I worked much easier; in a word, I learned to use the plane. [197] After removing the rough side from the plank, it was a relief to handle the smoothing-plane, and I polished off the wood to my own satisfaction and that of my employer.
In the afternoon I was sent upon the roof again to lay shingles, and we finished that part of the job before night. At six o'clock all the hands were paid off for their week's work. I felt considerable interest in this performance. ”